Electric relay



NOV. 23, 1954 w, ba so 2,695,346

ELECTRIC RELAY Filed July 31, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. nb'llz'agz )1 30665012.

HIS AT'TORATY W. A. ROBISON ELECTRIC RELAY Nov. 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1951 n Y 3 m 5 A. m w m mw W. w? 4 M w.

W. A. ROBISON ELECTRIC RELAY Nov. 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1951 INVENTQR. A. Robeson.

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United States Patent Ofifice 2,695,346 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 ELECTRIC RELAY William A. Robisou, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pin, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 31, 1951, Serial No. 239,486

14 Claims. c1. 200-93 My invention relates to electrical relays, and particularly to electrical relays which are suitable for use in railway signaling systems in which periodically interrupted or coded current is used to control signaling devices in accordance with different tratfic conditions.

In coded track circuits for controlling wayside signals, code transmitters periodically interrupt or code direct current supplied to the track circuit in accordance with traffic conditions. Such track circuits include a polarized code following relay periodically energized and deenergized by the on and off periods of the code, the normal and reverse contacts of the relay alternately opening and closing. The polarized code following relay, normally referred to as a polar stick relay, is designed so that its armature and the contacts controlled by the armature will remain in the last energized position when the relay is deenergized. Such polar stick relays normally have their operating windings connected directly across the source of coded energy.

If the operating winding of the usual polar stick relay were connected to a source of coded energy over the normal and reverse contacts so that the polarity of the energy applied to the winding is alternately reversed for each operation of the relay armature, and the coded energy having an impulse of longer duration than the pickup time of the relay, or steady energy, were to be applied for any reason to this circuit, under such circumstances the armature of the relay would be moved to its opposite position thereby opening the closed circuit energizing contacts, reversing the polarity across the operating winding, and reversing the operation of the relay armature; this reversing action continuing in a manner of a door bell electromagnet until the energy is removed.

An object of my invention is to provide a polar stick relay having operating windings which are connected over the normal and reverse contacts controlled by the relay, and which relay is not susceptible to doorbell action regardless of the duration of the applied energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a polar stick relay with two magnetic structures simultaneously operative upon closure of the contacts of the relay, the closed contacts being maintained closed by one of the magnetic structures as long as the energy is applied to the operating windings, the closed contacts being permitted to open only when the operating windings of the relay are deenergized.

A further object of my invention is to provide a polar stick relay with two magnetic structures wherein the effects of leakage flux of the one structure is eliminated by the structural details and polar characteristics of the second structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a polar stick relay for use in a coded track signaling system wherein sequential code impulses of alternately opposite polarities are transmitted, to halve the code frequency transmitted by the system.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a pair of operating windings adapted to be alternately energized, a polarized core structure and an operating armature oscillated by the energized operating windings, the operating armature being resiliently coupled to an oscillatory contact structure. A second pair of windings is also provided for the relay, together with a polarized core structure and a holding armature rigidly secured to the oscillatory contact structure. An operating winding of each pair of windings is connected respectively to the normal and reverse contacts of the relay. The organization of the two magnetic circuits and their operation are such that upon closure of the normal contacts of the relay, the operating armature will be moved to its reverse position while the holding armature will be held in its position, thereby holding the oscillatory contact structure against movement, the movement of the operating armature to its reverse position biasing the resilient coupling interconnecting the operating armature with the contact structure. When the applied energy to the windings is removed, the holding armature is released permitting the contact structure and the holding armature to be moved to their opposite positions by the biased resilient coupling, thereby opening the normal contacts and closing the reverse contacts. Energy then applied to the second connected pair of operating windings will operate the relay to open the reverse contacts and close the normal contacts in the manner indicated.

Other objects and characteristic features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe one form of a polar stick relay embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel feature thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a sectional view of a polar stick relay embodying my invention taken along the line II of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of my polar stick relay with some of the parts in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIlIl of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a partial rear elevational view of the polar stick relay showing the holding assembly. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a magnetizable bar forming a part of the holding assembly, while Fig. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating the organization of the magnetic circuits and the connections of the operating windings over the normal and reverse contacts controlled by the relay.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the relay comprises a suitable case consisting of a top plate 1 of insulating material secured to the upper end of a substantially U-shaped nonmagnetizable bracket 2, a metallic base plate 3 secured to the lower end of the bracket and a transparent glass cylinder 4 clamped between the top plate 1 and the base plate 3. A gasket 5 of cork or other suitable material is interposed between the top plate 1 and the upper end of the cylinder 4, and a similar gasket 6 is interposed between the bottom plate and the lower end of cylinder 4, thereby sealing the case against the entry of dust and other foreign substances.

The operating mechanism of the relay is mounted on the U-shaped bracket 2, and, as here shown, comprises a core structure consisting of two vertically disposed magnetizable bars 7a and 7b secured respectively to the legs 2a and 2b of the bracket 2 by screws 8. The bars 711 and 7b are provided at their upper ends with adjustable pole pieces 9a and 9b having confronting pole faces 10a and 10b, and at their lower ends with adjustable pole pieces 11a and 11b provided with confronting pole faces 12a and 12b, respectively.

Associated with the core structureis a net 13 which comprises a rectangular bar cast into a U-shape. This magnet is disposed with its two legs engaging the magnetizable bars 7a and 7b at points approximately midway between the two sets of pole pieces. The magnet is secured to the bracket 2 by means of a clamping strap 14 and screws 15. A resilient strip 16 of suitable material such as Phosphor bronze is clamped at its lower end between two clamping plates 17 which are secured to the bracket 2 by means of a screw 18, the upper end of this strip being fastened, as by riveting, to the lower end of a magnetizable armature 19. The armature 19 extends upwardly between the confronting pole faces 12a and 12b of the pole pieces 11a and 11b and the confronting pole faces 10a and 10b of the pole pieces 9a and 9b, and is provided adjacent its upper end with core pins 200 and 20b made of bronze or other nonmagnetic material, the core pins cooperating with the pole pieces and 9b to prevent the armature from coming into direct contact with the pole pieces. The resilient strip 16 is neither set nor stressed so that the armature 19 normally would occupy a position midway between the pole faces 10a and 10b. In Figs. 1 and 6, the armature 19 is permanent magillustrated adjacent the pole face 10a with the normal contacts closed, the armature being held in this position by the polarizing flux due to the permanent magnet 13, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

When the relay is in operation, the armature 19 oscillates between the pole pieces 9a and 9b and to prevent breakage of the resilient strip 16 due to the resultant dexing of this strip, the upper ends of the clamping plates 17 are rounded, as shown in Fig. 1, 'in such a manner that any flexing of the strip which occurs adjacent the upper end of these plates will be in the form of a gradual curve.

Surrounding the armature 19 between the two sets of pole pieces is an operating winding 22 wound on a hollow spool 23 (Fig. 1'). The operating winding is provided with a center tap (Fig. 6) to provide two coil portions 22a and 22b which will hereinafter be referred to as the operating windings 22a and 22b. 'The lower end of the spool 23 rests on the pole pieces 11a and 11b, the spool being held in place by the lower edges of the pole pieces 9a and 9b and cut-outs (not shown) in the ends of the spool.

With the above-described construction, the poiarizing flux due to the permanent magnet 13 traverses several different paths. One of these paths passes downwardly from the right-hand end of the permanent magnet 13, as viewed in Fig. 1, through the lower end of the bar 711, the pole piece 11a, the air gap between the pole piece 11:: and the lower end of the armature 19, the air gap between the lower end of. the armature 19 and the pole piece 11b,

the pole piece 11b, and then upwardly through the lower end of the bar 7 b to the other end of the permanent magnet. Another path passes upwardly from the right-hand end of the permanent magnet 13, as viewed in Fig. 1, through the upper end of the bar 7a, the pole piece 9a,

the air gap between the pole piece 9a, and air gap between I left-hand end of the permanent magnet 13. Another path for the polarizing flux extends upwardly through the bar 7a, as viewed in Fig. l, pole piece 9a, the air gap between the pole piece 9a and the armature 19, assuming the armature to be in the position shown, downwardly through the length of the armature 19, the air gap between the lower end of the armature 19 and the pole piece 11b, the pole piece 11b, and then upwardly through the bar 7b to the left-hand end of the permanent magnet. When .the armature occupies the opposite extreme position from that in which it is shown in Fig. 1, some of the flux which leaves the right-hand end of the permanent magnet will pass downwardly through bar 7a, through pole piece 11a, the air gap between the pole piece 110 and the ,lower end of the armature 19, then upwardly through the armature, across the air gap between the upper end of the armature and the pole piece 917, the pole piece 912, and then downwardly through bar 7b to the left-hand end of the permanent magnet.

It will be apparent, therefore, that both the amount and the direction of the polarizing flux which passes lengthwise through the armature 19 depends upon the position of the armature with respect to the pole pieces 9a and 9b. When the armature is midway between these pole pieces, there is no polarizing flux through the armature in the direction of its length because both ends of the armature are then at the same magnetic potential, but as the armature moves toward one or the other of the pole pieces 9a and 9b, flux flows through the armature in one direction or the other depending upon which one of these pole pieces is approached. The armature .19 being unbiased by the resilient strip 16, will be held in either of its extreme positions by the polarizing flux threading the armature depending upon the extreme position to which the armature had been moved by the magnetic flux of the operating windings.

The path of the flux due to the current flowing in the operating winding 22a of the relay may be traced from the upper end of the armature 19 where it divides between the air gaps to pole'pieces 9a and 917,, then through the bars 70 and 7b, the pole pieces 11a and 11b, and the air gaps between the pole pieces 11a and 11b to the lower end of the armature. The direction of the flux in these paths depends of course upon the polarity of the current sup plied to the operating winding 22a, and itwill be apparent that when this current is in one direction, the armature 19 L to hold the end of the armature 19 itherebetween.

will be repelled from the pole piece 9a and attracted to the pole piece 9b, but when the current is reversed, this flux is in an opposite direction and the armature will then be repelled from the pole piece 9b and attracted to the pole piece 911. Similar magnet paths may be traced when the operating winding 22b is energized.

In operating the relay in the manner hereinafter described, the permanent .rnagnet 13 will be considered as having its north pole adjacent to the magnetizable bar 7a and its south pole adjacent to the magnetizable bar 7b. In Fig. 6 of the drawings, the magnetizable bars 7:: and 7b have accordingly been marked with an N and an S in dash lines to indicate the north and south poles of the magnet, respectively. The operating winding 22a when energized by an impulse of one polarity in the manner to be described willbeconsidered as creating a magnetic flux which threads upwardly through the armature 19 the upper end of the armature being repelled by the pole piece 9:: and attracted to the pole piece 9b. The energization of the operating winding 22b by an impulse of the same polarity as heretofore will be considered as creating a flux threading downwardly through the armature, the upper end of the armature being repelled by the pole piece 9b and attracted to the pole piece 9a.

The extreme upper end of the armature 19 engages and operates a contact operating structure comprising-a contact spring support 24 of insulating material suspended from the top plate 1 by leafspringsZS secured adjacent the ends of said contact spring support. Fixed at about the mid point of the contact spring support are two dependent resilient members '26 and 2.7, the confronting faces at the lower ends thereof being bent inwardly to form a clamp Secured to the contact spring support 24 are two pairs of dependent contact fingers 28a and 28b, adapted to engage fixed contacts 29a and 2%, respectively, upon oscillation of said contact spring support. The fixed contacts 29:: and'29b are 'adjustably mounted in adjustable brackets 30 secured to the dependent ends of terminal posts 31 mounted in the top plate "1. The contacts 29a and 2% are so adjusted that when the contact spring support occupies the position illustrated, the normal contacts 28a- 2911 will 'be closed while the reverse contacts 28b- 29b will be open, but when the contact support 26 is moved to its opposite position, the reverse contacts 28b29b will be closed and the normal contacts 28a-29a will be open.

Operation of the relay structure thus far described is evident from the description made. Energization of the operating winding 22a in a manner to be described, will move the armature 19 to its opposite extreme position to open the normal contacts 28a29a and to close the reverse contacts 28b29b. Upon deenergization of the operating winding 22a, the polarizing flux due to the T permanent magnet 13 will hold the armature in its extreme position to hold the reverse contacts 23b 2b closed. Upon subsequent energization of the operating winding 22b, the armature '19 will be moved back to the extreme position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 to open the reverse contacts 28b29b and to close the normal contacts 28a29a. The polarizing flux of the permanent magnet will hold the armature in the position illustrated upon deenergization of the operating winding 22b.

In addition to the relay structure thus far described, which in many details is similar to the relay structure disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,057,605, granted to Herman G. Blosser on October 13, 1936 for Electric Relays, I provide a second pair of operating windings and 'a second armature operated by the second pair of windings, the second armature being rigidly secured to the contact spring support 24. The second pair of windings which will hereinafter be referred to as the holding windings, together with the sec- 7 ond or holding armature provide a magnetic control for the contact spring support to prevent door bell action of the relay. One of the operating windings and one of the holding windings are series-connected to a normal contact of the relay while the other windings of each pair of windings are series-connected to a reverse contact of the relay. One pair of connected windings is thus energized when the normal contacts are closed and the other pair of connected windings is energized when the reverse contacts are closed. The organization of the connected windings and the operation of both armatures are such that the contacts energizing a particular pair of connected windings will be held closed by the holding armature until the energizing pulse applied to the particular pair of connected windings is removed, at which time the holding armature is moved to its opposite extreme position to permit the closed contacts to open.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the U-shaped bracket 2 also serves to support a second magnetic structure comprising two pairs of horizontally disposed, spaced magnetizable bars 32a and 33a, and 32b and 33b, secured to the bracket legs and 2b, respectively, by screws 34. The magnetizable bars 32a, 33a and 32b, 33b are formed with suitable vertically aligned openings 35 (Fig. 5) for supporting magnetizable cores 36a and 36b, respectively, the ends of the protruding portions 35a of the magnetizable bars being split as at 37 to the openings 35 to provide a clamping action for the upper and lower ends of the cores received within the openings by the screws 38 threaded into the split ends. For reasons hereinafter apparent, the extreme outer ends 35b of the magnetizable bars adjacent to the legs 2a and 2b are of comparatively smaller cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the remainder of the bars, the split protruding ends 35:: of the bars and the reduced ends 3511 providing a magnetic circuit of higher reluctance than the inner ends 35c of the magnetizable bars.

Surrounding the cores 36a and 3615 are two holding windings 39a and 3%, respectively, oppositely wound on spools 40a and 40b of insulation material; the spools resting on the lower magnetizable bars 33a and 33b and held in position by the upper magnetizable bars 32a and 3211, respectively. Rigidly secured to the contact spring support is a dependent magnetizable armature 41 which extends between the pole faces provided by the inner ends of the magnetizable bars 32a, 32b and 33a, 33b. The lower end of the armature 41 is provided with core pins 41a which abut the pole faces provided by the inner ends of the bars 33a and 33b to prevent the sticking of the armature.

The path of the flux due to current in the holding winding 39a may be traced from the core 36a through the upper magnetizable bar 32a, across the air gap between the inner face of the magnetizable bar and the armature 41, downwardly through the armature 41 and across the air gap between the lower end of the armature and the inner face of the lower magnetizable bar 33a through the magnetizable bar and then upwardly through the core 36a. A similar magnetic path for the flux due to an energizing current in the holding winding 3% may be traced from the core 36b through the lower magnetizable bar 33b across the air gap between the inner face of the bar and the lower end of the armature 41, up through the armature and across the air gap between the armature and the inner face of the upper magnetizable bar 3217 and then down through the core 34%. As previously described in connection with the armature 19, the armature 41 would ordinarily occupy a position midway between the pole faces provided by the inner ends of the magnetizable bars 32a, 32b and 33a, 33b. With no energizing current in either of the two holding windings, the armature 41 will be moved into either of its extreme positions against the pole faces of the lower magnetizable bars 33a or 3312 by the contact spring support 24 in accordance with the position of the armature 19.

For purposes hereinafter appearing, there is secured to the U-shaped bracket 2 below the magnetizable bars 330 and 331) as by screws 42, a nonmagnetizable, horizontally disposed bar 43. Fixed to the underside of the bar 43 by screws 44 are two magnetizable bars 45:: and 45b supporting vertically adjustable pole pieces 46a and 46b having pole faces 47a and 47b, respectively. The pole faces 47a and 471) are spaced from the split protruding ends 35a of the magnetizable bars 33a and 33b, respectively. A U-shaped permanent magnet 48 having its ends abutting the undersides of the inner ends of the magnetizable bars 45a and 45b is supported by a nonmagnetizable bracket 49 secured to the underside of the bars 45a and 45b by screws 50.

Referring now to the schematic of Fig. 6 wherein the essential details of the magnetic circuits are illustrated together with the contact spring support and a normal and reverse contact of the relay, one end of the holding winding 39a is connected by lead 51 to the fixed contact 29a while the other end of the holding winding is connected by lead 52 to an end of the operating winding 22a, the other end of the operating winding being connected to an arbitrarily designated negative lead 53. A similar connection is made for the operating winding 22b and holding winding 39b to the fixed contact 29b which may be traced from the negative lead 53 through the operating winding 22b, a lead 54 to the holding winding 39b, then through a lead 55 to the back contact 29b. The movable contacts 281: and 28b are connected to an arbitrarily designated positive lead 56.

The armatures 19 and 41 are each illustrated in one of their extreme positions with the normal contacts 28a29a closed, the armature 19 being held by the polarizing flux due to the permanent magnet 13. Assuming an impulse of coded energy is applied across the leads 53 and 56, the normal contacts 28a29a being closed, both operating winding 22a and holding winding 39a will be energized simultaneously through the series circuit hereinabove described. Energization of the operating winding 22a will cause the armature 19 to be moved to its opposite extreme position against the pole piece 9b. The holding coil 39a being energized will hold the armature 41 against the inner face of the bar 33a. The armature 41 being rigidly secured to the spring contact support 24 will hold the support against movement thereof by the armature 19. The armature 19 in moving to its opposite extreme position against the pole piece 9b will flex the resilient coupling formed by the resilient members 26 and 27, but such movement of the armature 19 will not move the spring contact support 24 held by the holding armature 41. Both the operating winding 22a and the holding winding 39a will remain energized as long as a code impulse is applied across the leads 53 and 56. With the spring contact support held stationary by the holding armature 41, the normal contacts 2811-2911 will remain closed, while the reverse contacts 28b-29b will remain open.

It will be apparent that if the spring contact support were not restrained, the reverse contacts 28b29b would close upon the throw of the armature. If a code impulse were applied under conditions of an unrestrained spring contact support, the opening of the normal contacts and closure of the reverse contacts would reverse the operation of the relay to again close the normal contacts of the relay, thus producing a door bell action.

As long as the code impulse is applied across the windings 22a and 39a of the relay herein described, the reverse contacts will remain open, thus preventing the door bell action of the relay. When the code impulse is removed, the operating winding 22a and the holding winding 39a are deenergized. Operating armature 19 will be held in its extreme position against the pole piece 9b by the polarizing flux due to the permanent magnet 13, while the holding armature 41 released by the now deenergized holding winding 390 will be moved to its opposite extreme position against the face of bar 3312 by the spring contact support 24 due to the bias of the resilient coupling members 26 and 27. The movement of the spring contact support by the biased members to its opposite extreme position will open the nor mal contacts 28a29a and close the reverse contacts 28b29b. The armatures 19 and 41 will remain in the opposite extreme position with the reverse contacts closed until a code impulse is again applied caross the leads 53 and 56.

With the reverse contacts 28b-29b closed, a code impulse applied across the leads 53 and 56 will energize the operating winding 22b and the holding winding 39!) to move the armature 19 over against the pole piece 9a and to hold the holding armature 41 against the face of the bar 33b. The closed reverse contacts 28b29b will be held closed while the open normal contacts 28a-28b will remain open until the windings are deenergized, at which time the bias of the resilient members 26 and 27 will move the spring contact sup port to close the normal contacts and to move the holding armature against the face of bar 3311.

The small permanent magnet supported beneath the lower magnetizable bars 33a and 33b is primarily provided to oppose the leakage flux of the permanent magnet 13 of the main relay assembly. With the assumption previously made that the magnetizable bars and 7b of the main core assembly were polarized respectively north and south by the permanent magnet, the north pole of the magnet 48 is in juxtaposition with the bar 36:: while the south pole of the magnet is in juxtaposition with the bar 36b so that any leakage flux will be repelled by the similar poles of the small magnet. The holding windings 39a and 3% are oppositely wound so that upon energization of either winding, the magnetic fluxes of the windings and the permanent magnet 43 are additive.

The magnet 48 is so chosen and the pole pieces 46a and 4612 are so adjusted that very little polarizing flux due to the magnet 48 flows through the holding arma ture 41. The resilient members 26 and Z/' coupling the spring contact support 24 with the operating armature may thus move the contact support and the holding armature 41 to opposite positions with little or no opposition from the polarizing flux in the holding armature In the foregoing description of' my novel polar stick relay, code impulses of the same polarity were alone con sidered. The relay described will operate to halve the code frequency when sequential impulses of alternately opposite polarity are applied to the operating and holding windings.

Assuming the armatures 19 and 41 in the positions illustrated in Fig. 6 and an impulse of designated polarity is applied across the windings 22a and 39a. The armature 19 will be moved to its opposite positlon while the armature 41 will be held-in its illustrated position in the manner hereinabove described. Upon deenergization of the operating and holding windings, the normal contacts 28a29a will open and the reverse contacts 28b-29b will close. The next impulse applied across the windings will be opposite to the designated polarity. Operating winding 22b will set up a magnetic flux which threads upwardly through the armature 19 instead of downwardly as hereinbefore described. The armature 19 will thus remain in its opposite extreme position against the pole piece 912, the armature ft-i also being held in its opposite extreme position agalnst the inner face of bar 33b.

The next impulse applied to the windings of the relay being of the designated polarity will open the reverse contacts 2812-2917 and close the normal contacts 2Sa-29a in the manner described. The subsequent impulse being of a polarity opposite to the designated polarity will'energize the operating winding 22a in an opposite sense, i. e., the magnetic flux Will thread downwardly through the armature instead of upwardly as heretofore described. The upper end of the operatlng armature will thus be held by the pole piece 9a in its illustrated position, the holding armature ill being held in its illustrated position against the inner face of the bar 33a. The next impulse being of the designated polarity will operate the spring contact support in the manner described.

Thus, in the case of a coded track system wherein sequential code impulses of alternately opposite polarities are transmitted, the hereinabove described relay may be used to halve the code frequency, the spring contact support carrying additional contacts for the transmission of. the halved code frequency.

By providing the holding windings 39a and 39b and their attendant magnetic circuits together with the hold ing armature 41 I have provided a polar stick relay wherein the operating windings of the relay are energized over the normal and reverse contacts of the relay and in which the door bell action of the relay is eliminated regardless of the duration of the code impulse applied to the operating windings. The effects of any leakage flux of the permanent magnet 13 of the main relay assembly which may effect the holding magnetic structure are also eliminated by the structure and arrangement of the holding core components and the small permanent magnet forming a part of the holding magnetic structure.

Although I have herein shown and described one form of a relay embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, a first armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling between said first armature and said member, a second armature secured to said member and movable therewith, and operating windings for each of said armatures connected for simultaneous energizationwhereby said second armature and said movable member are held against movement while said first armature is moved to its opposite extreme position to bias said resilient coupling, deenergization of said operating windings releasing said second armature to permit the biased resilient coupling to move said movable member and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions.

2. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, a first armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling between said member and said first armature, a second armature secured to said member and movable therewith, a pair of windings for each of said armatures, a winding of' each pair of windings being connected with a winding of the other pair of windings, and a source of polarizing flux for said first armature, energization of a pair of connected windings holding said second armature and said member against movement while moving said first armature to an opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient" coupling, deenergization of the pair of connected windings releasing said second armature and permitting the biased resilient coupling to move said member and said second armature to an opposite extreme position.

3. A relay comprising, a member movable between wo extreme positions, a first armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling interconnecting said first armature and said member, a second armature secured to said member and movable therewith, a pair of operating windings for each of said armatures, a winding of each pair of operating windings connected to a winding of the other pair of operating windings, and means controlled by said movable member in its extreme posltions for alternately connecting a pair of connected windings to a source of interrupted energy whereby a connected pair of windings is energized to hold said second armature and said member against movement while moving said first armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergization of the connected pair of windings releasing said second armature to permit the biased resilient coupling to move said member and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions.

4. A relay comprising, a member movable between two extreme positions, a first armature movable between two extreme positions, a source of polarizing fiux for said first armature, a resilient coupling interconnecting said first armature and said member, a second armature secured to said member and movable therewith, a pair of operating windings for each of said armatures; the pair of windings for said first armature being so organized that energy of one polarity applied to one of said windings aids said polarizing flux, while energy of the same polarity applied to the second of said windings opposes said polarizing flux; a winding of each pair of operating windings connected to a winding of the other pair of operating windings, and means controlled by said movable member in its extreme positions for alternately connecting a pair of connected windings to a source of interrupted energy whereby a connected pair of windings is energized to hold said second armature and said member against movement while moving said first armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergization of the connected pair of windings releasing said second armature to permit the biased resilient coupling to move said member and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions.

5. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, contacts closed by said member in each of its extreme positions, a first armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling between said first armature and said member, a second armature secured to said. member and movable therewith, a pair of operating windings for each of said armatures, a winding of each pair of windings being connected with a winding of the other pair of windings to said contacts closed by said member in its respective extreme positions, and a source of polarizing flux for said first armature, energization of a pair of windings connected to contacts closed in one extreme position of said member holdingsaid second armature and said member against movement while moving said first armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergi-- zation of the pair of connected windings releasing said second armature and permitting the biased resilient coupling to move said member and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions thereby opening the closed contacts and closing the other contacts in said opposite extreme position of said member.

6. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, contacts closed by said member in each of its extreme positions, a first armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling between said first armature and said member, a second armature secured to said member and movable therewith, a pair of operating windings for each of said armatures, a winding of each pair of windings being connected with a winding of the other pair of windings to the contacts closed by said member in its respective extreme positions; and a source of polarizing flux for said first armature; said pair of windings for said first armature being so organized that energy of one polarity applied to one of said windings aids said polarizing flux, while energy of the same polarity applied to the second of said windings opposes said polarizing flux; energization of a pair of windings connected to said contacts closed by said member in one of its extreme positions by energy of said one polarity holding said second armature and said member against movement while moving said first armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergization of the pair of connected windings releasing said second armature and permitting said biased resilient coupling to move said member and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions thereby opening the closed contacts and closing the other contacts in said opposite extreme position of said member.

7. A relay comprising, a pair of spaced magnetizable bars provided with confronting pole pieces, a permanent magnet connected with said bars, an oscillatory magnetizable armature disposed between said pole pieces, a pair of operating windings for oscillating said armature between the two extreme positions provided by said pole pieces, a contact operating mechanism including normal and reverse contacts and movable between two extreme positions wherein said normal or reverse contacts are closed, a resilient coupling interconnecting said armature and said contact operating mechanism, two spaced magnetizable core structures including confronting pole faces, an operating winding for each of said core structures, and a second oscillatory magnetizable armature disposed between said core pole faces and secured to said contact operating mechanism to be movable therewith between the two extreme positions provided by the confronting core pole faces, each winding of said pair of operating windings being connected with an operating Winding for said core structures to the normal and reverse contacts respectively of said contact operating mechanism, whereby a pair of windings connected to contacts closed by said operating mechanism in one extreme position may be simultaneously energized by energy of a given polarity to hold said second armature and said contact operating mechanism against movement while moving the first said armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergization of the pair of connected windings releasing said second armature and permitting the biased resilient coupling to move said contact operating mechanism and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions to open the closed contacts and to close the other contacts in the opposite extreme position of the contact mechanism.

8. A relay comprising, a pair of spaced magnetizable bars provided with confronting pole pieces, a permanent magnet connected with said bars, an oscillatory magnetizable armature disposed between said pole pieces, a pair of operating windings for oscillating said armature between the two extreme positions provided by said pole pieces, a contact operating mechanism including normal and reverse contacts and movable between two extreme positions wherein said normal or reverse contacts are closed, a resilient coupling interconnecting said armature and said contact operating mechanism, two spaced magnetizable core structures including confronting pole faces, an operating winding for each of said structures, a second oscillatory magnetizable armature disposed between said core pole faces and secured to said contact operatmg mechanism to be movable therewith between the two extreme positions provided by the confronting core pole faces, each winding of said pair of operating windings being connected with an operating winding for said core structures to the normal and reverse contacts respective ly of said contact operating mechanism, whereby a pair of windings connected to contacts closed by said operating mechanism in one extreme position may be simultaneously energized by energy of a given polarity to hold said second armature and said contact operating mechanism against movement while moving the first said armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergization of the pair of connected windings releasing said second armature and permitting the biased resilient coupling to move said contact operating mechanism and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions to open the closed contacts and to close the other contacts in the opposite extreme position of the contact mechanism, and a second permanent magnet connected with said core structures to oppose the leakage flux of said first permanent magnet.

9. A relay comprising a nonmagnetizable support, a pair of spaced magnetizable bars provided with confronting pole pieces and secured to said support, a permanent magnet connected with said bars, an oscillatory magnetizable armature disposed between said pole pieces, a pair of operating windings for oscillating said armature between the two extreme positions provided by said pole pieces, a contact operating mechanism including normal and reverse contacts and movable between two extreme positions wherein said normal or reverse contacts are closed, a resilient coupling interconnecting said armature and said contact operating mechanism, two spaced magnetizable core structures, including spaced magnetizable bars secured at one end to said support and provided with confronting pole faces of larger cross sectional area than the ends secured to said support; an operating winding for each of said core structures, a second oscillatory magnetizable armature disposed between said core pole faces and secured to said contact operating mechanism to be movable therewith between the two extreme positions provided by the confronting core pole faces, each winding of said pair of operating windings being connected with an operating winding for said core structures to the normal and reverse contacts respectively of said contact operating mechanism; whereby a pair of windings connected to contacts closed by said operating mechanism in an extreme position may be simultaneously energized by energy of a given polarity to hold said second armature and said contact operating mechanism against movement while moving the first said armature to its opposite extreme position thereby biasing said resilient coupling, deenergization of the pair of connected windings releasing said second armature and permitting the biased resilient coupling to move said contact operating mechanism and said second armature to their opposite extreme positions to open the closed contacts and to close the other contacts in the opposite extreme position of the contact mechanism, and a second permanent magnet connected with said core structure adjacent to the connected ends of said magnetizable bars to oppose the leakage fiux of said first permanent magnet.

10. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, an armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling between said armature and said member, an operating winding for oscillating said armature, electromagnetic means for holding said member against movement when energized, and means controlled by said member in its extreme positions to simultaneously energize said operating winding and said electromagnetic means; said energized electromagnetic means holding said member against movement by said armature due to the energization of said operating winding to bias said resilient coupling, the deenergization of said electromagnetic means releasing said member to permit the biased resilient coupling to move said member to its other extreme position.

ll. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, an armature movable between two extreme positions, a resilient coupling between said armature and said member, an operating winding for oscillating said armature, and electromagnetic means simultaneously energizable with said operating winding for holding said member against movement by said armature to bias said resilient coupling, deenergization of said electromagnetic means releasing said member to permit the biased resilient coupling to move said member to its other extreme position.

'11 12. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, a first electromagnetic means for moving said member from the one extreme position to the other extreme position upon energization thereof, a resilient coupling interconnecting said member and said first electromagnetic means, a' second electromagnetic means for holding said member against movement upon energization thereof, and means controlled by said member in its extreme positions for simultaneously energizing both of ,said electromagnetic means, said energized second electromagnetic means holding said member against movement by said first energized electromagnetic means to biassaid resilient coupling, deenergization of said sec ond electromagnetic means releasing said member and permitting 'said biased resilient coupling to move said member to its other extreme position.

13. A relay comprising a member movable between two extremepositions, a first electromagnetic means for moving said member from one extreme position to the other extreme position "upon energization thereof, a re- L silient coupling interconnecting said first electromagnetic means and said member, and a second electromagnetic means energized simultaneously with said first electromagnetic means -for holding said member against movement by saidfirst electromagnetic means to bias said resilient coupling, deenergization of said second electromagnetic means releasing said member and permitting 12 the biased resilient coupling to move said member to its other extreme position.

14. A relay comprising a member movable between two extreme positions, electromagnetic means for moving said member from the one extreme position to the other extreme position upon energization thereof, a resilient coupling interconnecting said electromagnetic means and said member, and means effective upon energization of said electromagnetic means for holding said member against movement by said electromagnetic means to bias said resilient means, said last means becoming ineifective to hold said member upon deenergization of said electromagnetic means to permit said biased resilient coupling to move said member to its other extreme position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 130,795 Edison Aug. 27, 1872 402,639 Wilson May 7, 1889 482,137 Richards Sept. .6, 1892 2,056,147 Hitchcock Sept. 29, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number .Country Date 149,342 Great Britain May 10,1921 

